About 25 years ago I was employed by a small contracting company doing development work for controllers in cars, medical equipment, environmental electronics and also airplanes. I was the leader of a group of 7. I had a great relationship with the customers and the group members and the projects went well.
Nonetheless I had permanent fights with the owner of the company who had a very different management style – mine was about keeping a good and personal relationship with the group members and I had a natural authority, he was very conservative and formal and put a lot of pressure on everybody.
I tried to protect the group members from that pressure as the work they where doing was creative and needed (to my opinion) a relaxed mind. These constant fights ruined my nerves.
I went to a year of self experience and by the end of that year I quit my job – out of the blue. I am self employed since then.
I never wanted this – and it was the best decision I ever made …